No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1000 | Ed and Paul reminisce about 1000 episodes of Rant Cast/NQAT, from its origins as a weekly phone call, to committing to recording every week, and then the expanding NQAT universe over the past couple of seasons. The conversation turns to United’s post-Fergie decline and Ed Woodward, the Glazers’ ownership, Ratcliffe’s restructuring, and optimism about Michael Carrick’s steadying impact, squad depth, transfers, and a Champions League schedule next season.

00:00 Introduction

00:27 The Lost 1000th Episode

02:00 Sunday's Game vs Brighton

03:48 Origins of the Podcast

05:47 How the Show Grew

10:10 YouTube and the Expanded NQAT Universe

13:58 Football Finance and Data Nerd Communities

19:25 United's Decline Since The Fergie Era

21:06 The Ed Woodward Years

25:57 Ratcliffe, Ineos and the Cultural Reset

39:14 Next Season: Squad Needs and the Summer Window

46:47 Michael Carrick 

01:04:47 Wrapping Up

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#1009 | Ed and Dan recap United’s comfortable win over Brighton on the South Coast. There was a little bit of liquid football to close out the season in an upbeat mood. With no Casemiro in the squad and Cunha on the bench, Patrick Dorgu and Mason Mount started in what could easily have descended into an end-of-season dead rubber. Instead, this was the best way to close out the campaign, including Bruno's record-breaking 21st assist of the season.

00:00 Introduction

02:05 Carrick's Tactical Choices: Mount, Dorgu and the Midfield

03:25 What Do United Need in Midfield?

11:04 Dorgu: Big Spaces Player and the Right Profile?

16:21 The Squad Vibe and Carrick's Man-Management

20:16 Guardiola vs Fergie

30:49 England Squad: Tuchel's Selection

40:51 Summer Transfers: Fernandes, Tonali, Ederson

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our ⁠Patreon page⁠ or subscribe on ⁠Apple⁠ Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on ⁠YouTube⁠. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on ⁠Apple⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ed and Dan break down Michael Carrick's appointment as Manchester United head coach on a two-year deal: why the job went to him over the alternatives, and what comes next.

Sixteen games into the interim spell, the results speak for themselves. The floor has been raised, and his methods are not complicated: a back four, Mainoo restored to the team, players returned to roles they recognise, and Amorim's pressing scheme abandoned.

From there the conversation turns to what's next. Does Carrick have a ceiling that meets elite Champions League sides? How does the summer midfield rebuild dictate whether United play the way Carrick really wants next season? And what does success look like?

00:00 Carrick's Record and the Reaction Online

02:52 Previous United Managers

10:08 What Carrick Has Done Differently

18:52 Midfield Profile - What United Need

34:31 Carrick's Character and Management Style

36:35 Champions League and What Success Looks Like

40:38 Summer Transfer Window - Who Should United Sign

45:40 Wrapping Up

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1007 | Ed and Dan review Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in the final home game of the season. More than 4 xG created, 29 shots taken and Bruno Fernandes’ 20th assist. Plenty of entertainment on offer.

It's Michael Carrick’s 11th win of his short tenure, but he's found a way for United to keep emerging victorious from these narrow-margin games.

It was a day when Casemiro said farewell to Old Trafford, Luke Shaw scored his first goal for three years, and Bryan Mbeumo eventually got on the scoresheet too. There was some controversy about Matteus Cunha's goal, although rules are rules, innit?

Inevitably, the conversation turns to the summer. Can United give Carrick the tools he needs to succeed?

00:00 Intro and Match Reaction
05:51 Casemiro's Farewell
12:54 Game Analysis: Goals and Key Moments
17:21 Midfield Replacements: Casemiro's Successor
44:21 Bruno's 20 Assists: How Good Is It?
47:35 Summer Transfer Window
01:00:38 Michael Carrick as Manager

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#1006 | Ed and Adam look forward to United’s final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest. It’ll be the chance to close out the season with some momentum and say farewell to Casemiro. There’s a review of United U18s defeat to City in the FA Youth Cup final. A positive start, but United were eventually overpowered by a strong, older City team. City’s 6,000 ground wasn’t even full. Then we turn to the imminent (re)appointment of Michael Carrick as United’s Head Coach. Carrick is likely to be offered a two-year deal after winning 10 of his 15 games in charge.

00:00 Introduction

05:16 Matchday Income and Sponsorship Bump

11:18 How Much Can United Spend?

16:46 Transfer Targets and Player Sales

19:33 Betway Sponsorship 

26:03 Michael Carrick 

39:35 FIFA World Cup Finances

51:24 Fan Experience

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices